By Kingsley Benson
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is turning to Nigerian youths to help curb the rising toll of traffic accidents, urging them to use their influence, creativity, and digital skills to make the country’s roads safer.
Speaking recently in Abuja at the Road Safety Youth Hangout 2025, themed ‘Safer Roads, Brighter Future: Youth Leading the Change,’ the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, said that road safety could not be left to the authorities alone. The policy direction of the Corps Marshal, Mallam Shehu Mohammed, he explained, is built on the belief that road safety is a shared responsibility – and young people must be central to the effort.
Corps Marshal Ogungbemide noted that while adults have long dominated public discussions on road safety, statistics show that youths are among the most vulnerable groups. This, he said, is why the Corps is urging them to take ownership of the campaign, using social media to spark conversations, shape attitudes, and influence peers positively. He also encouraged them to embrace the FRSC mobile app as a vital tool for accident prevention.
At the event, 23 “Friends of the Federal Road Safety Corps” were inducted as Celebrity Special Marshals, including Radio Nigeria’s Kayode Oyedare. The FCT Sector Commander, Corps Commander Felix Theman, challenged young drivers to uphold discipline behind the wheel, respect speed limits, avoid phone use while driving, and adopt safe driving habits.
Corps Commander Theman voiced concern over the high number of young people killed or injured due to unsafe road practices. He revealed that the FCT Sector Command recently apprehended 250 drivers for 550 offences, with some facing mobile court trials and being sentenced to 14 days of community service.
He assured that the Corps would continue to work closely with youths, harnessing their energy and creativity not only to address traffic violations but also to build a culture of safety that supports national development.
